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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. O. A. MAYRHOFER.

ELEGTRO PNEUMATIC OLOGK SYSTEM.

No. 427,781. Patented May 13, 1890.

WITNESSES:

m: nunms Firms 42s., mom-ummfwsnmc'rus. n. c.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL ALBERT MAYRI-IOFER, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO THE ELECTRO -PNEUMATIC TIME COMPANY, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRO-PN EU MATlC-CLOCK SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 427,781, dated May 13,1890.

Application filed December 5, 1889. Serial No. 332,720. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, CARL ALBERT MAYE- HOFER, of the city of Berlin, inthe Kingdom of Prussia, Empire of Germany, a citizen of Austria-Hungary,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectro-Pneumatic-Clock Systems, of which the following is aspecification.

In the Letters PatentNo. 359,790, which were granted to me on March 22,1887, for a hydropneumatie-clock system,1 have described an apparatus bywhich a vacuum or partial vacuum is produced in a line-pipe or system ofline-pipes through the medium of an ejector operated by water, steam, orother fluid, the vacuum being established at stated intervals of timefor the purpose of acting on suitable mechanisms applied to a number ofsecondary clocks, which are thereby wound up and set.

The obj eet of this invention is to simplify the apparatus described insaid patent, so as to render the same less expensive, bring the partsthereof within a smaller compass, and render the operation of the samemore reliable and effective; and the invention consists in the improvedmechanism for producing the vacuum in a system of line-pipes by means ofan injector, to which a suitable workingfiuid is supplied by a mainpipe, and a sup ply-cock that is opened and closed at regularintervalsof time by means of a driving-gear and a suitable releasing mechanismfor said driving-gear.

The invention consists, next, of the improved mechanism for producingand destroy in g the vacuum in a system of line-pipes by means of anejector, to which the workingfluid is supplied by a main pipe, and asup- 4o ply-cock operated bya driving-gear, released by suitablemechanism, said driving-gear also operating an air-valve connected withthe vacuum line-pipe, so as to destroy the vacuum in the same when theevacuation is completed.

The invention consists, next, of certain ad ditional details andcombinations of parts, whereby the releasingmechanismis operated whenthe vacuum is established in the linepipe and the driving mechanismrewound, as will be fully described hereinafter, and finally pointed outin the claims; and the invention consists, lastly, of certainimprovements in the secondary clocks and the winding and hand-settingdevices operated by my improvedapparatus, so as to produce the reliablefunctioning of said secondary clocks.

In the accompanying drawings,higure 1 represents a front elevation ofthe apparatus by which the vacuum is controlled in my improvedelectro-pneumatic-clock system. Fig.

2 is a front elevation of the main supply-cock and its operatingmechanism, together with the releasing mechanism, drawn on a largerscale; and Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of one of the secondary clocks,showing the winding and hand-setting devices of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The vacuum-controlling apparatus receives its supply of water, steam, orother fluid through a main supply-pipe A, which is provided with a cocka, that is opened when the apparatus is to be set in operation. Abovethe cock at is arranged a sediment-trap 1 3, which is provided with acentral partition or diaphragm, around which the water passes for thepurpose of depositing the sediments contained therein in the trap. Thesediments are drawn off from time to time from the trap B by means ofsuitable openings closed by screw-plugs Z; 6. Above the sediment-trap l3arranged in the main pipe a pressure-gage O, for indicating the pressureof the fluid in the main pipe A. The main pipe A is preferably connectedby a branch pipe A with an ejector E, two branch pipes and ejeetorsbeing preferably arranged symmetrically one at each side of the mainpipe A. Each ejector is connected with a line-pipe or system of line- 0pipes G, in which the vacuum is to be established, the lower ends of theejectors terminating in receiving-vessels E, which are connected to awaste-pipe E through which the water or other liquid employed inestablishing the vacuum in the line-pipes is conducted off. Any approvedconstruction of ejector may be used.

In the main supply-pipe A is located, above the vacuum-gage O, asupply-cock D, to the spindle of which is keyed a sprocket-wheel (I,over which is passed a drive-chain D, that passes over fixedguide-pulleys d and over pulleys (Z (Z of a drive-weight \V and abalance-weight IV, by which latter the proper tension of the chain D isproduced. The supply-cock D is prevented from being turned by thedrive-weight NV and chain D by means of four stop-pins (I of thesprocket-wheel d, which abut against a stop f X on a stop-lever f, thatis pivoted to a fixed standard f. The outer free end of the stop-leverfis provided with an adjustable tongue f that rests 011 one of thepallets of the upwardly-extending fork of a fulerumed armature-lever F,which is operated by an electro-magnet F, that is supported below thestop-leverfl The eleetroniagnet F, the armature-lever F, and its fork ftogether with the stop-lever f and its stoppin f constitute thereleasing mechanism, by means of which the supply-cock D may be operatedby the drive weight and chain at stated intervals of timesay once everyhourso as to open the supply-cock and cause the water to pass to theejectors and produce a vacuum in the line-pipes or close the supply-cockand interrupt the working of the ejectors. To the armature-lever F isapplied the usual tension-spring, while the motion of the armature-leveris confined by contactstops, which engage the lower end of the same. Thestop-pins d of the sprocket-wheel d are arrested by the stop f X of thestop-lever f, so as to produce thereby the locking of the sprocketwvheel(Z and supply-cock D. This takes place when the armature-lever F is notattracted by the eleetro-magnet F, and the tongue f of the stop-lever fis supported on the lower pallet of the fork f of the armature-lever.The electro-magnet F is electrically connected with a standard clockprovided with circuit-closing devices which are closed at statedintervals of timesay once every hourand which then send a current overthe line to the electro-magnet F, so as to attract the armature-lever Fand produce the dropping of the stop-lever F. On the drop-' ping of thestop-leverf the stop-pin (1*, which abuts at the time against the stop fis released from the same, so that the sprocketwheel (1 and thesupply-cock D are free to be turned by the drive weight and chain for aquarter-rotation, so as to open the supplycock D and permit the water topass to the ejectors E. The stop-leverf is further provided at its innerside next adjoining the sprocket-wheel cl with a shoulder f whichshoulder is engaged by one of the stop-pins (V as the same passesupwardly by the rotating action of the sprocket-wheel (Z, so that thelever is lifted thereby high enough to permit the passage of thestop-pin (1* past the shoulder f, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,whereby the stop-leverf is dropped and its tongue f returned to itsformer position on the lower pallets of the armature-fork f At the sametime the stop f of the stop-lever f is returned into the path of thenext stop-pin (V on the sprocket-wheeld, so as to arrest the motion ofthe latter and hold the supply-cock D in open position. In case, 'forsome reason or other, the armature-lever F should not be released fromthe electro-magnet the higher pallet of the fork f serves for arrestingthe stop-lever f when its shoulder f" is released by the liftingstop-pin (1", said pallet supporting the stop-leverf until thearmature-lever F is released and its fork f moved back into its normalposition, by which motion the lower pallet passes under the tongue ofthe stop-lever f and supports the latter thereby in its normal positionof rest, as shown in Fig. 2.

I11 the vacuum line-pipes G, that extend from the ejectors E E, areinterposed closed vessels I, from which the air is first exhausted bythe action of the ejectors. These vessels serve for preventing thedrawing up of the water into the line-pipes in case the air-valve bywhich the vacuum is destroyed should not be opened at the proper time.They prevent thereby the water from passing into the vacuum line-pipesso as to do damage. Above the vessels I I are arranged stop-cocks g, forshutting off one or both lines of vacuumpipes, while below the same arearranged three-way cocks g, by which the connection between the vacuumline-pipes G and a transverse conneeting-pipe G may be established orinterrupted. From the transverse pipe G a pipe leads in downwarddirection to a casiug G in which a flexible diaphragm is arranged, thespindle g of which is connected to a fulcrumed and weighted lever g,located near the armature-lever of the eleetro-magnet F. This fuleruinedlever is provided at the end next to the armature-lever F with a sprintongue 72 which extends toward said armature-lever. of vacuum isestablished in the vacuum linepipes and in the diaphragm-casing G theweighted lever g" is lifted by the diaphragmspindle and thespring-tongue h pressed against the armature-lever F, which is therebyoscillated, so that the pallet or its fork f drops the stop-lever f,causing thereby the release of the sprocket-wheel (L and, by the actionof the drive chain and weight, the turning of the stop-cock D foranother quarter-rotation, whereby the stop-cock D is closed and thesupply of water shut off. ly the turning of the sprocket-wheel (Z thestop-pin (Z of the same, which is at that time at the lower part of thesprocket-wheel, returns the stop-leverf into its normal position of reston the fork f, so as to be ready to arrest the sprocket-wheel and lockthe supply-cock in closed position when arriving at the end of itsquarter-rotation.

From a point in the main pipe A above the supply cock D extends a smallpipe h in downward direction and terminates in the As soon as therequired degree IIO bottom of a cylinder H, in which a piston isarranged, to which a toothed piston-rod 71. is applied, which lattercarries a weight 7f at its upper end. As soon as the supply-cock D isopened and water supplied to the ejector E the same enters also throughthe pipe 72, into the lower part of the cylinder H, and causes therebythe lifting of the weighted and toothed pistonrod 71/2. The piston-rod7L2 meshes with a loose pinion 7v on the shaft of one of the guide andsprocket wheels (1 of the drive-chain, said pinion being connected by aratchet-wheel 71; and pawlh with said guide and sprocket wheel d, so asto turn the latter and produce thereby the rewinding on thedrive-weight. As soon as the supply of water is interrupted the weightof the piston-rod 7L2 causes the piston to descend, so as to force thewater from the cylinder 11 back into the main pipe A into the spaceabove the stop-cock D. Below the drive-weight W is arranged abrake-cylinder L, which is filled with a suitable liquid and providedwith a piston, the piston-rod Z of which forms contact with the bottomof the drive-weight XV. The lower end of the brake-cylinder L isconnected by a curved pipe Z with an open cylindrical vessel 1. Thecylinder L, its piston, and the vessel Z serve as a hydraulic brake forthe drive-weight TV, so as to cause it to move slowly in downwarddirection and produce thereby the even motion of the drivechain D andthe slow opening of the stopcock D. The rewin din g of the drive weight\V produces, by the pressure of the liquid in the vessel Z on thepiston, the lifting of the latter, so that its piston-rod Z follows theupward motion of the weight lV, returning thereby the parts of the brakedevice into normal position, so as to be ready to act again as soon asthe d rive-weight is again called into action.

As soon as the vacuum has been established in the line-pipes G,connected with the secondary clocks, the supply-cock D is moved intoclosed position by the action of the pneumatically-operated lever g,spring-tongue 7:, arm ature-lever F, and the stop-lever, as beforedescribed. Simultaneously with shutting off the supply of water it isnecessary to destroy the Vacuum in the line-pipes G, which isaccomplished by a second chain M, which passes overa second smallersprocket-wheel m on the spindle of the supply-cock D and over asprocket-wheel m on the spindle of an airvalve M, located in an air-pipeM which extends in downward direction from the transverse pipe G, asshown in Fig. 1. As soon as the supply-cock D is closed thesprocketwheels m m and chain M open the air-valve M, so as to destroythe vacuum in the linepipes G, and vice versa. As soon as the supplycockD is opened air-valve M is closed, and thereby the entrance of air intothe air-pipe M prevented. The air-pipe M which, with the air-valve M,serves for destroying the vacuum in the line-pipes, terminates in one ofthe receiving-vessels E, so as to conduct any water which perehanceshould pass into the transverse connecting-pipe G to the vessel Ewithout causing it to do any damage or interrupt the working of thevacuum-controlling apparatus. A collecting-tray N, having openings forthe receiving-vessels E, is preferably arranged above said vessels andextended across the whole width of the vacuum-controlling apparatus, soas to conduct any leakage from the supply-cock, ejectors, or other partsto the receiving-vessels and waste-pipe. A safety device, which iscomposed of a cylindrical vessel 0, that is connected with one of thewaste-pipes E and a float O in said vessel, serves to close by theupwardly-extending spindle of the float two contact-springs 0 when thefloat is lifted. The contact-springs O are located in a circuit with theelectro-magnet F and a suitable alarm device. In case of an overflow orirregular working of the apparatus the float is raised and the circuitclosed by the contact-springs just described, whereby the armature ofthe electro-magnet F is attracted and the supply-cock D closed, so thatthe supply of water is shut off, while the alarm device calls attentionto the fact that the apparatus is not in proper workingorder.

To the system'of vacuum line-pipes are connected by branch pipes anumber of secondary clocks, each clock being provided with a casing l,the diaphragm of which is connected to a spindle 13, that is pivoted toa weighted lever p. This lever is applied at its opposite end loosely tothe arbor of the mainspring of the clock. The lever 11 is provided witha pawl 29 that engages a ratchet-wheel p keyed to the arbor of themainspring of the clock, while a check-pawl 1) prevents the turning ofthe ratchet-wheel when the lever 19 and the pawl p are returned intotheir lower normal position. The lever p is provided with a pin 1),which lifts a weighted pawl 19 that is pivoted to a pivoted andspringactuated hand-setting lever P, so as to move thereby said levertoward the arbor of the hour-hand whenever the lever 1) is lifted by thespindle p. The upper end of the handsetting lever P strikes against oneof the pins 19 on adouble-crank arm 29 which is keyed to the arbor ofthe hour-hand, and which by the action of the lever P sets the hands totwelve. To the upper end of the hand-setting lever l is pivoted atriangular spring-pressed cheek g, which secures the proper engagementof the crank-pins 29 the obtuse-angled part of which projects beyond thelever P and serves to engage one of the pins on the double crank pwhatever he the position of the crankarm 12 so as to prevent the lockingof the crank-arm and hand-setting lever P in case the crank-arm is at anearly horizontal posi tion. The check q acts, therefore, in the natureof a guard, so as to cause the proper action of the lever I even if thedouble crank 23 should be in a position at right angles thereto.Simultaneously with the hand-set- TIO ting action, caused by the leverP, the mainspring of the clock is wound up by the action of the lever p011 the pawl 13 and ratchetwheel 19 As soon as the vacuum is interruptedby the admission of air into the linepipes the diaphragm in the casing Preturns to its normal position, together with the operating-lever p,which return motion is assisted by the weight at the outer end of thelever 19.

The operation of my improved vacuumcontrolling apparatus forelectro-pneumaticclock systems is as follows: lVhenever thecircuit-closing devices of the standard clock are closed, a current ofelectricity is sent to the electro-magnet F, by which the armatureleverF, is attracted and the stop-lever f dropped, so as to move its stop fout of the path of the stop-pins (I of the sprocket-wheel d, and producethereby by the action of the drive-weight W the opening of thesupplycock I). The water or other liquid by which the vacuum is producedis then permitted to pass through the main pipe A to the ejectors E,which evacuate the air in the system of line-pipes and in thediaphragm-casings of the secondary clocks connected with the line pipes.By the action of the vacuum all the clocks in the system are wound upand their hands set, which takes place once every hour. \Vhile the wateris supplied to the ejectors E the drive-weight IV is rewound again bythe action of the Water on the weighted pistonrod 72?, which engages thesprocket and guide wheel d of the drive-chain D. During the rewinding ofthe drive-weight the sprocketwheels on the spindle of the supply-cock Dturn loosely on the spindle in the same manner as the sprocket-wheel d011 its spindle, so that no turning action is exerted on the supply-cockD or the air-valve M during the rewinding of the drive-weight. As soonas the hand setting and winding of the secondary clocks is accomplishedby the evacuation of the line-pipes the releasing mechanism is againoperated by the diaphragm located in the casing G which operates thelever g, and thereby the armature-lever is oscillated by thespring-tongue of the latter, so that the lever f is dropped again andthe supply-cock I) closed by the action of the drive-weight.Simultaneously therewith the air -valve is opened and the vacuum in thesystem of linepipes destroyed, which permits the actuating parts of thevacuum-controllin g apparatus as well as of the secondary clocks toreturn to their normal positions ready for the next oporation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In an electro-pneumatic-clock system, thecombination of a main pipe, a supplycock interposed in said main pipe,an ejector connected with the main pipe, a vacuum linepipe connectedwith the ejector, an ail-valve connected with the vacuum linepipe,driving mechanism applied to the spindle of the supply-cock and adaptedto operate the supply-cock and air-valve, and a releasingmeehanismconnected with the supply-cock and operated at suitable intervals foropening and closing the supply-cock and air-valve, substantially as setforth.

2. In an electro-pneumatic clock system, the combination of a main pipe,a supply-cock in said main pipe, an ejector connected with said mainpipe, a vacuum line-pipe connected with said ejector, an air-valveconnected with the vacuum line-pipe, and a closed vessel interposed insaid line-pipe for preventing the drawing up of the working-fluid intothe linepipe in case the air-valve is not opened at the proper time,substantially as set forth.

8. In an electro'pneLunatic-clock system, the combination of a mainpipe, a supplycock in said main pipe, an ejector connected with saidmain pipe, a vacuum line-pipe connected with the ejector, an air-valveconnected with said line-pipe, driving mechanism for operating thesupply-cock and airvalve, a releasing mechanism for said drivingmechanism, and a pneumatieally-actuated lever adapted to operate thereleasing mechanism, so as to produce the closing of the sup pl y-cockand the opening of the air-valve, substantially as set forth. v

4. In an electro-pneumatic-clock system, the combination of a main pipe,a supplycock interposed in the same, an ejector connected with said mainpipe, a vacuum linepipe, an air-valve connected with said Vacuumpipe, adriving mechanism for operating the supply-cock and air-valve, areleasing mechanism for controlling the operation of said drivingmechanism, and a winding-up mechanism operated by the action of theoperatingfluid, so as to rewind the driving mechanism after each openingof the supply-cock, substantially as set forth.

5. In an electro-pncumatic-clock system, the combination of a main pipefor supplying the working-fluid, a supply'cock in said main pipe, anejector connected with said main pipe, a vacuum line-pipe connected withsaid ejector, an air-valve connected with said linepipe, a drivingmechanism for operating the supply-cock, a stop'lever for said drivingmechanism, and an electro-magnet and its armature adapted to engage orrelease said stop-lever, so as to produce the opening or closing of thesupply-cock and air-valve, substantially as set forth.

6. In an electro-pneumatic-clock system, the combination of a main pipe,a supplycock interposed in the same, an ejector connected with said mainpipe, a vacuum linepipe connected with the ejector, an air-valveconnected with the vacuum line-pipe, a driving mechanism for operatingthe supply-cock and air-valve, a stopdever for said driving mechanism,an electro-magnet,an. armature adapted for engaging or releasing saidstoplevcr, and a pneumatically operated and Weighted lever having aspring-tongue adapt-- ed to engage said armature, substantially as setforth.

7. In an electro-pneumatic-clock system, the combination of a vacuumline-pipe, a secondary clock, a pivoted and Weighted lever connected toa diaphragm operated by the action of the vacuum in said line-pipe, apawl on said lever, a ratchet-Wheel on the arbor of the mainspring, apivoted hand-setting lever engaged by a pin on the weighted lover, atriangular and spring-pressed cheek pivoted to the hand-setting lever,and a double crank on the arbor of the hour-hand, said crank having pinsat its ends, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a secondary clock,a pivoted and weighted leverconnected to a diaphragm operated by the action of a vacuum on the same,a hand-setting lever pivoted to the clock and engaged by a pin on theWeighted lever, a triangular and springpressed guard-cheek pivoted tothe hand-setting lever, and a double crank on the arbor of thehonr-hand,said crank having a pin at each end, and being adapted to be set by saidguard-cheek whatever be the position of the crank toward thehand-setting lever, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention I have signed myname in pres ence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL ALBERT l\'lAYRlIOFER.

IVitnesses:

MAX FRICK, MONE KCn-ILER.

